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When the Calgary Flames drafted Adam Ollas-Mattsson in the sixth-round of the 2014 National Hockey League draft, they raved about the Swedish mystery player’s size and character.

And, as promised, the six-foot-four and 216-pounder arrived at WinSport over the weekend for the annual summer development camp exactly as advertised.

As for his character?

Well, take the 17-year-old’s recent injury into consideration and you’ll start to understand a little bit about the life of the bright Flames’ prospect.

The newly drafted Ollas-Mattsson arrived in the city with his foot in a walking boot. A surprise to many, considering when the team selected him 175th overall, there was no word of his injury.

Already sensing the question, Ollas-Mattsson cleared the air on Tuesday.

“I was riding a bike and there were rocks on the road,” he explained after another upper body day at WinSport’s facilities, his first taste of professional hockey. “I tripped with the bike and fell and twisted my foot. I have a crack in it . . . there’s only like two more weeks until it heals.

“I was actually on my way to my mom’s grave on Mother’s Day.”

Getting back to that character the Flames were talking about . . .

Two years ago, Ollas-Mattsson’s mother lost a three-year battle with liver cancer which had been her second encounter with the disease, beating breast cancer when Ollas-Mattsson was born in 1996.

“She passed away when I was at a hockey tournament,” said the big left-handed defenceman who turns 18 on July 30. “But (experiences like that) make you tougher. It makes you stronger as a person, dealing with all of those emotions and stuff. I think it’s made me who I am today. I think I’m a lot more mature than guys my age.”

After his mother died, it was up to him to help his father Jorgen take care of his younger brothers 13-year-old Isac and six-year-old Joel who was born 10 weeks premature and is in a wheelchair.

“I’ve been through a lot,” Ollas-Mattsson said, sounding much wiser and full of life experience than your average teenager. “You get used to it and you get stronger. It’s just a normal day to have my dad at home with my two younger brothers. It’s been pretty tough. There are times when it’s sad, thinking of all the memories.

“But I’m just trying to think of the positive side and there’s nothing I can do about it, so you just live with it.”

It also puts life-changing events — like, being selected in the National Hockey League draft for example — into perspective.

When the Flames hollered Ollas-Mattsson’s name, he wasn’t on site in Philadelphia but celebrated the moment while staying at a friend’s house. His dad was travelling in Spain at the time but he immediately was on his phone to spread the news.

“And, of course, I called my younger brothers to tell them I was drafted,” Ollas-Mattsson said, grinning. “My youngest brother was at our summer house and called him to tell him I’d bring a hat to him. He was really happy.”

Ollas-Mattsson had represented Sweden in the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament last summer and, after playing with Djurdgarden’s junior team, he signed on to play the 2014-15 season with the men’s team.

Or, he may jump on with a team in the Allsvenskan.

“Just to see how I do,” Ollas-Mattsson said. “I want to play with the pros. I played a couple of games this year (six) and felt pretty good.

“Hopefully next year, I’ll only play with the big guys. That’s what I’m hoping for.”

The 2014 Draft also gave Ollas-Mattsson an opportunity to connect with another Swedish draft pick of the Flames via Twitter.

“Mikael Backlund Tweeted me after I got drafted,” he said. “That was pretty funny, like, ‘Welcome to the Calgary Flames.’ That was pretty big. He’s a really good player and hopefully I’ll get to know him in the future.”

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Late-round pick Ollas-Mattsson has done far more growing up than your average teenager

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